Destroy the weeds and dig up the roots

Regardless of whether Chen Chang'an's identity was genuine or not, the mere presence of a talking yellow dog was enough to instill fear in Wu Chengfeng and the other man.

When Chen Chang'an questioned them, they dared not neglect his inquiry, yet couldn't bring themselves to speak the complete truth.

"Esteemed Senior, some time ago, the spiritual energy of the entire Beiyuan Prefecture was drained. As the prefect, it was my duty to investigate the matter," Wu Chengfeng replied respectfully.

"After some inquiries, we traced the disturbance to Swallow Return City, which is why we came here."

"However, we didn’t expect to encounter such a scene earlier."

"Please forgive us, Senior. We were merely fulfilling our responsibilities and could not stand idly by."

"If it was your duty, then let it be," Chen Chang'an said, choosing not to press the matter further. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Chen Yunxuan.

"Yunxuan."

"Here."

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

Huh?

Killed anyone?

The question caught Chen Yunxuan off guard, but he answered truthfully, "No, I haven’t."

"In that case, I have a task for you."

"Take a few men to the Xu Family and the Ning Family."

"Leave no one alive—young or old."

Chen Chang'an's words sent a chill through everyone present. Kill them all?

Even Wu Chengfeng and Nan Xiangtian were stunned. This ancestor of the Chen Family had ruthless methods.

"Ancestor, the Xu and Ning Families have already lost their elites. They pose no threat now."

"Is this truly necessary?" Chen Yunxuan hesitated.

"Foolish!"

"If they are enemies, why show mercy?"

"You must understand the principle of uprooting weeds completely!"

"Never underestimate a potential threat, no matter how small. A single oversight could lead to consequences you cannot bear!"

"In your future endeavors, you must rely not only on courage and talent but also on ruthlessness!"

"Mercy toward your enemies is cruelty to yourself."

"Do you understand?" Chen Chang'an's voice was stern.

"Yes, Yunxuan understands," Chen Yunxuan replied solemnly.

"Go. Sooner or later, you will have to face this. Better to experience it now and grow accustomed to it."

"Yes."

With a nod, Chen Yunxuan led a group of men toward the Xu and Ning Families.

"By the way, you are the prefect of Beiyuan Prefecture, correct?"

"You don’t mind my actions, do you?" Chen Chang'an asked with a faint smile.

Mind?

Only a fool would say they minded. As long as he wasn’t the one being killed, Wu Chengfeng couldn’t care less.

"Senior jests. This junior wouldn’t dare object," Wu Chengfeng quickly replied.

"If there’s nothing else, you may leave."

"Senior, given the Chen Family’s current strength, Swallow Return City is no longer suitable for you."

"Would you allow me to arrange a relocation for the Chen Family? A more fitting place?"

Wu Chengfeng didn’t want to miss this chance to curry favor. With the Chen Family’s formidable power, having them remain in Beiyuan Prefecture would only benefit him.

"No need. The Chen Family will be leaving this place soon."

"Oh? May I ask where?"

"The capital."

The capital?

The Chen Family was returning to the capital? To reclaim their former glory?

Upon reflection, it made perfect sense. What was once lost must be taken back.

Beiyuan Prefecture could no longer contain the Chen Family.

Wu Chengfeng gave a bitter smile, bowed deeply to Chen Chang'an, and then left the Chen residence with Nan Xiangtian.

"Who would have thought the Chen Family still had an ancestor like this?"

"But why didn’t I sense any danger from him?"

Only after leaving did Nan Xiangtian dare to speak, fearing that a single wrong word in the Chen residence might have doomed him.

"A figure of his stature has long surpassed anything we can perceive. How could we possibly sense anything from him?"

"However, the skies of the Great Zhou Kingdom are about to change."

"The Chen Family’s return to the capital will undoubtedly stir up waves," Wu Chengfeng mused.

"Indeed. Do you think they’re going back for… that matter?"

"Wasn’t there a pact between the Chen Family and the Liu Family back then?"

At this, Wu Chengfeng’s expression shifted. How had he forgotten about that?

"Possibly!"

"I must report this to His Majesty immediately."

Great Zhou Kingdom, Capital

"Family Head, it’s already been a month. We cannot delay any longer, or it will be too late."

After returning to the Liu Family, Liu Mengyan and Liu Chengfeng recounted everything that had happened at the Chen Family and shared their thoughts.

Yet, upon hearing this, the Liu Family Head hesitated, unable to make a decision.

Now, a month later, Liu Mengyan and Liu Chengfeng grew increasingly anxious. Prolonging the matter would only harm the Liu Family.

"I understand what you’re saying, but is that person truly the Chen Family’s ancestor?"

"Is he really that powerful?"

"Have you seen him act?" the Liu Family Head asked skeptically.

"Family Head, though he never took action, his strength is undeniable. My aura had no effect on him."

"That alone proves his cultivation surpasses mine."

"Moreover, when we left, the spiritual energy of the entire Beiyuan Prefecture was drained. I suspect it was his doing—a warning to us," Liu Chengfeng said gravely.

The information was too vague, leaving the Liu Family Head uncertain.

Perhaps this so-called ancestor of the Chen Family had reached the Transcendent Realm, possibly even beyond the early stages. But the imperial family was not to be trifled with either.

In a month’s time, Liu Mengyan was set to be engaged to the Fifth Prince. Preparations were already underway in the imperial court.

Calling it off now would be a direct insult to the royal family.

"Father, I know what concerns you."

"But that Chen Family ancestor is a figure who has lived for ten thousand years."

"If we act now, the Chen Family might spare us out of past ties."

"As for the imperial family, would they dare provoke such a being?" Liu Mengyan urged.

The Liu Family Head frowned, wrestling with the decision. After a long silence, a sudden realization struck him.

"Wrong! All wrong!"

"The Chen Family… what a clever scheme!"

"They nearly deceived us all!" the Liu Family Head laughed coldly.

"Huh? Wrong? Father, what do you mean?" Liu Mengyan asked, puzzled.

"If the Chen Family truly had such an ancestor, one so powerful, why has there been no movement in the past month?"

"If he was truly strong, why resort to tricks to intimidate you?"

"His only goal was to make you fearful, to prevent you from acting against the Chen Family."

"If you two fell for it and canceled the engagement with the Fifth Prince, the Liu Family would face the imperial family’s wrath without the Chen Family lifting a finger."

"The Chen Family would eliminate us without shedding a drop of blood."

"What a brilliant plan. The Chen Family is truly cunning!" the Liu Family Head sneered.

"Family Head, but that old ancestor of the Chen Family truly possesses some strength. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have remained so composed and unruffled in the face of my imposing aura," Liu Chengfeng said, puzzled.

"This is precisely where their true cunning lies!"

"They have strength, but not enough."

"Their power surpasses yours, yet it’s nowhere near enough to oppose the royal family."

"If Liu Mengyan’s betrothal to the Fifth Prince succeeds, our Liu Family and the imperial family will become one."

"By then, what could the Chen Family possibly do?"

"Both of you are still too naive, thinking too simplistically."

"Even I was almost misled by the two of you."

"Hmph, such a petty scheme could never escape my notice," the Liu Family Head sneered coldly.

"So that’s how it is!"

"The Family Head is truly wise!"